Apparatus for forming bendable prong fasteners



NOV. 15, 1955 w, ER 2,723,442

APPARATUS FOR FORMING BENDABLE PRONG FASTENERS Filed Oct. 28, 1952INVENTOR.

WALTEQ E'- THAYEE ATTORNEYS United States Patent APPARATUS FOR FORMINGBENDABLE PRONG FASTENERS Walter E. Thayer, Lockport, N. Y.

Application October 28, 1952, Serial No. 317,166

2 Claims. (Cl. 29-13) This invention relates to an apparatus for formingbendable prong fasteners.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forforming prong fasteners which enables the user to perform the necessarybending operations with facility and ease.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forforming prong fasteners which is suitable for use by unskilled persons,and which is of sturdy construction.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a corner portionof the top plate of the punch block forming part of the apparatus of thepresent invention, showing a strip of bendable material inserted priorto forming said strip into a fastener.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the strip partlyformed and illustrating the engagement therewith of the strip formingbar which may be employed as a part of the model making assembly.

Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to Figures 1 and 2 showing thefastener in its almost completely formed condition.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the mannerof completing the formation of the fastener, employing the same barmember shown in Figure 2 in conjunction with the structure provided onthe top of the punch block.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a supporting member11 on the top of which is secured a plate 14. One corner of the topplate 14 is beveled, as shown at 44 and is formed with the upwardlyoffset tongue 45 which is employed as a forming die for forming metalfasteners from narrow strips of thin sheet metal. The fasteners areformed from narrow strips, such as is shown at 46 in Figure 1, the strip46 being engageable beneath the tongue 45 against the edge of thebeveled corner portion 44 of the plate 14, and the strips being bendableupwardly, as shown in dotted view in Figure 1, to a substantiallyU-shaped configuration. Designated at 47 is a rectangular bar memberhaving parallel slots 48, 48 formed at one end thereof to define aforming finger 49 which is insertable between the upstanding legs of thestrip 46, in the manner shown in Figure 2, said legs being received inthe slots 48, 48 as illustrated. The upstanding legs may be then bentoutwardly to substantially horizontal positions overlying the topsurfaces of the bar 47 outwardly adjacent the slots 43, 48. Then the bar47 is removed and both legs are bent inwardly and upwardly to thepositions shown in Figure 3. The partially fabricated fastener is thenremoved from the tongue 45. The punch 25 is removed from its bore andthe legs 50, 50 are engaged in the bore in the manner shown in Figure 4,the bore being designated by the reference numeral 51. The bar 47 isformed at the end thereof opposite the slots 48, 48 with an arcuatenotch 52 which is then engaged beneath the head of a screw 53 secured inthe top of the block member 13, as illustrated in Figure 4, the bar 47being thus employed to eXert downward force on the head portion of thefastener to flatten said head portion, as shown at 54. Bar 47 istherefore employed as a forming lever which cooperates with the headedmember 53 to fiatten the head of the fastener. After the head has beenthus flattened, the fastener may be removed and is ready for use. Thefastener may be used to secure together a plurality of formed strips orother members, the legs of the fastener being insertable through punchedholes in the strips or elements to be secured and the ends of the legsbeing then bendable outwardly to lock the pieces in securedrelationship.

Respective vertical bores 40', 40 are formed in the rear portion ofsupporting member 11 through which suitable fastening members may beengaged to secure the member 11 to a larger base to provide additionalrigidity.

A suitable upstanding bracket may be removably secured to the rearportion of block 13 to which a lever may be pivotally connected, saidlever being engageable in a groove 41' formed in the top of head 26, sothat the punch may be lever-operated. While a specific embodiment of animproved model making punch device has been disclosed in the foregoingdescription, it will be understood that various modifications within thespirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art.Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the inventionexcept as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming bendable pronged fasteners comprising asupport, a horizontal tongue on said support spaced from the support toreceive a bendable blank strip therebeneath whereby the ends of thestrip may be bent upwardly to define prongs, and a flat rectangularforming bar provided with parallel slots at one end, said slots beingengageable with the upwardly bent prongs when the portion of the barbetween the slots is placed on the tongue, whereby said prongs may bebent outwardly over the edges of the slots.

2. Apparatus for forming bendable prong fasteners comprising anupstanding supporting member, a flat plate on the top of said memberinwardly of a corner portion of the latter member, a horizontallydisposed tongue carried by said plate and overhanging and spaced abovethe corner portion of said member to receive a bendable blank striptherebeneath whereby the ends of the strip may be bent upwardly todefine prongs, and a flat bar having spaced slots extending inwardlyfrom one end, said slots being engageable with the upwardly bent prongswhen the portion of the bar between the slots is placed on the tonguewhereby said tongues may be bent outwardly over the edges of the slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 75,781Naylor Mar. 24, 1868 1,431,641 Erickson Oct. 10, 1922 2,013,705 WarrenSept. 10, 1935 2,320,205 Wales May 25, 1943

